People who bought this also bought...

Puccini: La Bohème

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

La Bohème is one of the three operas - the others are
Carmen and
Aida - believed to be the most popular ever written. In the case of
La Bohème the reason is that it virtually defines the term "romantic". The poignant story of Mimì and Rodolfo is told in music of such tender beauty, allied, as always, to Puccini’s intuition of what works in the theatre. The result is an opera that readily appeals to our emotions and senses.

Mozart: The Magic Flute

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 10 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

The Magic Flute almost defines a masterpiece, because it can be enjoyed on every level. It is a superb fairy story, complete with dragons, demons, a handsome prince, and a lovely maiden seriously in need of rescue; it is a political satire, social commentary, and psychological drama; it is full of tunes from the playful to the heart-stopping, jolly songs, and deeply spiritual outpourings. It is, in short, "Mozart" - and there is no greater compliment than that.

Don Giovanni

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
2

Story

5 out of 5 stars
2

Don Giovanni has long been regarded as Mozart’s supreme theatrical achievement. The subject seems unpromising - the last day in the life of the notorious womanizer Don Juan - but the skill of the librettist allied to the genius of Mozart at the very peak of his powers has created a work which is not only highly entertaining but reflects an incredible understanding of the human condition.

Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
3

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
3

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
3

Many opera-lovers would name
The Marriage of Figaro as their favorite opera. It appeals to the most intellectual listener, but also to music-lovers seeking great melodies and ensembles (while it remains accessible through its fascinating plot and memorable characters) and to those seeking only entertainment. One of three operas by Mozart to libretti by Lorenzo da Ponte, it represents one of the pinnacles not just of operatic but of human achievement.

Mozart: Così Fan Tutte

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

Così Fan Tutte contains some of Mozart’s most sublime music. On one level, the opera is purely a social anecdote about young people falling in and out of love; but Mozart was a supreme sensualist and a great humanist, and invested the tale with all his understanding of humanity and young love. In this title, David Timson refutes the charge that Mozart squandered his genius on a work full of trivial nonsense and proves this "miraculous yet problematic" opera to be a great work of theatre. To listen to this thought-provoking examination of the characters and the music is both thoroughly enriching and great fun.

Carmen

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 6 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
2

Story

5 out of 5 stars
2

Carmen is among the most popular operas for all the obvious reasons: great characters, a gripping story, and fabulous music. But what sets it on a pinnacle is an amazing combination of three factors: a sizzling Gipsy heroine (one of the most psychologically complex and compelling characters in all theatre), great atmosphere (Spain, hot sun, the bull-ring), and the prodigality of melodic invention - one great tune after another, at least a dozen of which are the staples of Madison Avenue and the animated cartoon.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent introduction.

By
Amazon Customer
on
08-01-19

Puccini: La Bohème

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

La Bohème is one of the three operas - the others are
Carmen and
Aida - believed to be the most popular ever written. In the case of
La Bohème the reason is that it virtually defines the term "romantic". The poignant story of Mimì and Rodolfo is told in music of such tender beauty, allied, as always, to Puccini’s intuition of what works in the theatre. The result is an opera that readily appeals to our emotions and senses.

Mozart: The Magic Flute

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 10 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

The Magic Flute almost defines a masterpiece, because it can be enjoyed on every level. It is a superb fairy story, complete with dragons, demons, a handsome prince, and a lovely maiden seriously in need of rescue; it is a political satire, social commentary, and psychological drama; it is full of tunes from the playful to the heart-stopping, jolly songs, and deeply spiritual outpourings. It is, in short, "Mozart" - and there is no greater compliment than that.

Don Giovanni

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
2

Story

5 out of 5 stars
2

Don Giovanni has long been regarded as Mozart’s supreme theatrical achievement. The subject seems unpromising - the last day in the life of the notorious womanizer Don Juan - but the skill of the librettist allied to the genius of Mozart at the very peak of his powers has created a work which is not only highly entertaining but reflects an incredible understanding of the human condition.

Mozart: The Marriage of Figaro

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 19 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
3

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
3

Story

4.5 out of 5 stars
3

Many opera-lovers would name
The Marriage of Figaro as their favorite opera. It appeals to the most intellectual listener, but also to music-lovers seeking great melodies and ensembles (while it remains accessible through its fascinating plot and memorable characters) and to those seeking only entertainment. One of three operas by Mozart to libretti by Lorenzo da Ponte, it represents one of the pinnacles not just of operatic but of human achievement.

Mozart: Così Fan Tutte

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 18 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
1

Story

5 out of 5 stars
1

Così Fan Tutte contains some of Mozart’s most sublime music. On one level, the opera is purely a social anecdote about young people falling in and out of love; but Mozart was a supreme sensualist and a great humanist, and invested the tale with all his understanding of humanity and young love. In this title, David Timson refutes the charge that Mozart squandered his genius on a work full of trivial nonsense and proves this "miraculous yet problematic" opera to be a great work of theatre. To listen to this thought-provoking examination of the characters and the music is both thoroughly enriching and great fun.

Carmen

By:
Thomson Smillie

Narrated by:
David Timson

Length: 1 hr and 6 mins

Original Recording

Overall

5 out of 5 stars
2

Performance

5 out of 5 stars
2

Story

5 out of 5 stars
2

Carmen is among the most popular operas for all the obvious reasons: great characters, a gripping story, and fabulous music. But what sets it on a pinnacle is an amazing combination of three factors: a sizzling Gipsy heroine (one of the most psychologically complex and compelling characters in all theatre), great atmosphere (Spain, hot sun, the bull-ring), and the prodigality of melodic invention - one great tune after another, at least a dozen of which are the staples of Madison Avenue and the animated cartoon.

5 out of 5 stars

Excellent introduction.

By
Amazon Customer
on
08-01-19

Editor reviews

If ever you thought you’d like to give opera a listen but it just seems too impenetrable, this is your chance to give it a go. Opera scholar and writer Thomas Smillie has put together a wonderfully approachable series titled, Opera Explained. In this edition, performed enthusiastically by the veteran, David Timson, Smillie explains the enduring story of romance and sacrifice from the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. Combining entertaining insight with beautiful renditions of Verdi’s opera, Smillie makes Verdi’s La Traviata accessible to listeners from all backgrounds.

Summary

La Traviata owes its enduring popularity to a superb story of young love and fatal sacrifice, set to music by Italy’s master melodist at the peak of his powers. Interest and poignancy are added by the fact that this is a true story - the baritone ‘heavy’ is Alexander Dumas who wrote The Count of Monte Cristo. But it is the central figure, the heroine Violetta, the archetypal ‘whore with the heart of gold’ who dominates the piece. It is her opera and we love her for it.

A superb ‘human interest’ story, a captivating cast of characters, and music which is both enchanting and insightful: just some of La Traviata’s ingredients explaining its enduring popularity. The characters are outlined with Smillie’s reliable blend of insight and originality: "Violetta, we must accept, is the proverbial Whore with the Heart of Gold, and this ravishing melody goes a long way towards melting the said heart." David Timson narrates throughout.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

interesting and educational look at the opera

This series is great for learning about an opera, in this case the Verdi classic. I listened to this before I attended a live performance and it helped immeasurably. The narration is wonderful and there's a lot of humor as well.